Hello, I'm Svetlana Shneyder, the woman behind CouchDegree.com.
I'm a middle-aged woman who grew up watching an awful lot of television. Some people might consider that wasted time. I prefer to think of it as an education, although I don't recall anyone offering me college credits for watching Archie Bunker make a fool of himself.
I grew up with shows like Leave It to Beaver, The Andy Griffith Show, The Waltons, Little House on the Prairie, Good Times, All in the Family, and The Facts of Life. These weren't just programs I watched to pass the time. The characters became familiar faces, their problems gave me something to think about, and somewhere along the way, I developed both my sense of humor and my ideas about what it means to be a decent human being.
Or, as I like to call it, being a mensch.
A Little Sociology, a Lot of Television
I've always been fascinated by people. Why do we say things we don't mean? Why is admitting we're wrong so difficult? Why can some people disagree respectfully while others turn a simple conversation into World War III?
I studied sociology, which gave me another way to examine human behavior, relationships, family dynamics, and the expectations society places on us.
But my interest in those subjects started long before I ever sat in a college classroom.
I watched George Jefferson struggle with the difference between having money and having class. I watched Archie Bunker cling to his prejudices while the world around him changed. I watched Mrs. Garrett help the girls navigate friendship, honesty, and responsibility.
And I watched Andy Taylor demonstrate that sometimes you can teach someone a lesson without raising your voice or embarrassing them in front of the whole town.
Of course, I also learned that some people are so convinced they're right that arguing with them is about as productive as arguing with a television set.
At least the television has an off button.
The Shows That Stayed With Me
I've always loved television shows that managed to be entertaining while teaching us something useful.
One of my favorite things about Doogie Howser, M.D. was the way Doogie reflected on his experiences in those closing computer diary entries. The episode might have made you laugh, frustrated you, or left you shaking your head, but there was usually something worth thinking about afterward.
I appreciated that quality in Last Man Standing, too. And I've enjoyed more recent shows like Mom, which found humor in some pretty messy human situations.
I don't believe television has to be wholesome to teach us something. In fact, some of the best lessons come from watching characters behave badly, make terrible decisions, and deal with the consequences.
And as I've gotten older, I've discovered something else: watching an old favorite at fifty-something is a very different experience from watching it as a kid.
Suddenly, you understand the parents a little better. Or you realize the parents were completely wrong. Sometimes the character you once admired turns out to be the one who needed the biggest reality check.
That's part of what makes revisiting these shows so much fun.
Why I Started CouchDegree.com
I started CouchDegree.com because I wanted a place to explore the connection between television and everyday life, without turning every discussion into a psychology lecture.
I'm interested in the ordinary things that make human relationships work—or fall apart. Honesty, kindness, consideration, loyalty, responsibility, good manners, and knowing when to keep your mouth shut.
That last one could probably use an entire television series of its own.
I bring my own observations, life experience, sociology background, and sense of humor to what I write. I'm not here to tell anyone that a fictional character has all the answers. Most of them could barely manage their own lives.
I'm here to look at what they did, what happened because of it, and what we might do differently if we found ourselves in a similar situation.
Sometimes I'll agree with the lesson a show was trying to teach. Other times I'll question it. Television reflects the values of its time, and some of those values deserve a second look.
You can love a show without agreeing with everything it taught you.
Still Learning From the Couch
I don't pretend to have all the answers. I've lived long enough to know that people are complicated, common sense isn't nearly as common as we'd like, and growing older doesn't automatically make anyone wiser.
But I still believe there's a lot to learn from the stories we've watched over the years.
If I can make you laugh, remind you of a favorite television moment, or get you thinking about how we treat one another, I'll consider that a pretty good use of all those hours I spent in front of the TV.
And if you come away having learned something about being a better mensch, even better.
I'm Svetlana Shneyder. Welcome to CouchDegree.com. Pull up a seat.
